Our vision
To create a healthy, sustainable and fair food system for everyone in Leeds
Our mission
We’re sharing our appetite for good food by bringing people together from every corner of the city to celebrate and promote the abundance of food work in Leeds.
Together, we’re transforming policy, contributing to research, motivating businesses and communities to become FoodWise, and inspiring pride in our Sustainable Food Places status.
Our journey
We are a member of Sustainable Food Places. Established in 2017 as the Leeds Food Partnership, and now known as FoodWise Leeds, we partner with local organisations, businesses, government and universities to deliver campaigns, promote community initiatives and share knowledge and skills that will improve Leeds’ food system. In 2019, Leeds received the Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award in recognition of the city’s joined-up holistic approach to food work. But we’re hungry for more! We now have our sights set on the Silver Award in 2026.
The Leeds Food Strategy is a citywide approach to good food working across three themes:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Food Security and Economy
- Sustainability and Resilience
Our vision for good food also incorporates the Sustainable Food Places Six Key Issues Framework:
- Food governance and strategy
- Building a good food movement
- Healthy food for all
- Sustainable food economy
- Catering and procurement
- Food for the planet.
To help us to create a healthy, sustainable and fair food system for Leeds, we’re asking individuals, food businesses and local organisations to take action and be FoodWise.
Our advisory group members
Juli Thompson – Chair (FoodSavers, Inn Churches)
Kevin McKay – Vice Chair (Rethink Food)
Sonja Woodcock – FoodWise Coordinator (Zest; Feed Leeds)
Emma Strachan (Adults and Health, LCC)
Dom Charkin (Zest)
Dave Paterson (Leeds Food Aid Network)
Jonathon Williams (FareShare Yorkshire)
Andrew White (Climate, Energy and Greenspaces, LCC)
Jo Rowlands (Financial Inclusion, LCC)
Sara Gonzales (University of Leeds)
Emma Schofield (Financial Inclusion)
Melanie Reed (Rethink Food)
ZoeParker – FoodWise Comms (Zest)
Rachel Ainscough (Leeds Community Healthcare Trust)
Claire Dalton Nobbs (Climate, Energy and Greenspaces)
Chris Green (Rethink Food)
Alan Thornton (Fruit Works Cooperative)
Rifhat Malik (Give a Gift)